Lawrence Schools Foundation distributes $24,000 in grants

The Lawrence Schools Foundation has distributed more than $24,000 in grants to fund teacher innovation in the classroom.

The 14 grants, which ranged from $500 to $3,000 will be used for a variety of purchases, including iPads, heart rate monitors, digital microscopes and computer programs. The Lawrence Schools Foundation has awarded 110 grants totaling nearly $165,000 since 2003. This year’s grants include:

• $3,000 for iPads and materials that will allow non verbal students to communicate at Kennedy.

• $3,000 for heart rate monitors that will be incorporated into the physical education program at Lawrence High School.

• $2,500 for materials that support learning behaviors at New York.

• $2,500 for materials that support learning behaviors at Woodlawn.

• $2,305 for digital microscopes at Sunflower that will project images on a screen.

• $2,038 for an iPad that will teach students about appropriate behavior throughout the district.

• $1,800 for materials and iPad that will help students make and sell coffee at Free State High School.

• $1,700 for materials to incorporate activities into the Antarctic Explorers unit at Sunflower.

• $1,500 for iPod touches and other technology to enhance job performance as part of the Project SEARCH program.

• $1,298 for a program that helps determine learning styles and incorporates exercises to reach students at Woodlawn.

• $800 for Sim City, a simulation computer game that will teach students at Southwest Middle School about governments.

• $750 for technology that will allow the art department at LHS to incorporate wax into photographs and painting.

• $700 for providing materials and training for a program that will have Free State students teach about tolerance to the lower grade levels.

More like this story on LJWorld.com

Comments

I looked up Lawrence School foundation because I wondered where they get the funding from.
Here is what I found.
The Foundation solicits and receives contributions from citizens, businesses, alumni, foundations and other sources to provide opportunities for both students and staff.
Can the LJW clarify the "other sources" I wonder if they are recieving tax dollars, through grants form the city. If they are, this seems to duplicate services and create another spending source of usd 497.

We checked with Susan Esau, the executive director of the Lawrence Schools Foundation, who said all money comes from private contributions. None of the money is from federal, state or local tax dollars.

As a non-profit, tax exempt organization this, and all such, organizations are required by law to list all their sources of income and expenditures, including salaries. Most charity and foundation rating organizations give their highest scores to those groups that list all this information on their public websites.

As an IRS tax exempt sanctioned entity, the organization gives up their privacy and must make all their information public either on their website or by request.